The 2023 Ashes Series is shaping up as a tightly contested five-Test journey after England avoided an early series defeat to snatch the third Test at Headingley.
The third Test was another thriller, only this time the host nation came away with the win while stars from both camps stood tall.
Here's how our Rolling XI for the 2023 Ashes Series has take shape ahead of the fourth Test in Manchester.
1. Usman Khawaja
356 Runs (First test: 141, 65, Second test: 17, 77, Third test: 13, 43)
Usman Khawaja remains the standout performer among all the openers, adding another 56 runs to an impressive Ashes campaign. Despite falling short of his fourth 50, Khawaja was solid in what can be described as a lacklustre second innings for Australia.
2. Ben Duckettย
237 runs (First test: 12, 19, Second test: 98, 83, Third test: 2, 23)
Headingley was a disappointing test for Duckett with only 26 runs across his two innings. A 42-run partnership with Crawley was enough to kickstart an intense run chase that saw England earn their first result of the series.
3. Joe Root
232 runs (First test: 118, 46, Second test: 10, 18, Third test: 19, 21)
2 Wickets (Second test: 2/19, Third test: 0/4)
Root retains his place in the XI despite another disappointing batting display in the second Test. Despite his below-average batting, his bowling in the second Test alongside a dominant batting display in the first Test has solidified his position. Root's performances are well below what is expected for a player of his calibre, but his selection is given amongst a pool of disappointing middle-order performances across the series.
4. Harry Brook (replaces Steve Smith)
210 runs (First test: 32, 46, Second test: 50, 4, Third test: 3, 75)
Harry Brook has found himself back into the best XI after an instrumental display in an entertaining England run chase. Brook finally walked the walk with a score of 75 and a strike rate of 80. Brook has continued to build on a consistent series, scoring at least 50 runs in each test.
5. Travis Head
266 runs (First test: 50, 16, Second test: 77, 7, Third test: 39, 77)
2 wickets (Second test: 2/17, 0/23)
Head has continued to show why is one of the best in the world in the third Test, scoring 39 and 77 with both performances cementing his position at number five in our team. Head now enters the top 3 scores of the series behind Ben Stokes and Usman Khawaja
6. Ben Stokesย
309 runs (First test: 1, 43, Second test: 17, 155 Third test: 80, 13)
3 Wickets (First test: 1/33, 1/9, Second test:1/26, 0/21)
England's captain was enormous again in the third Test, scoring 93 runs across both innings which was enough for England to claim the match. Ben Stokes' 309 runs across the three tests places him only behind Usman Khawaja for runs scored. Despite not threatening the Australian batters with the ball, Ben Stokes has bravely led his team from the front against a stacked touring outfit.
7. Alex Carey (WK)
142 runs (First test: 66, 20, Second test: 22, 21, Third test: 8, 5)
20 dismissals (First test: 9, Second test: 6 Third test: 5)
Carey is holding his spot as wicket-keeper with another solid performance with the gloves. His batting has continued to struggle in the first Test but has shown glimpses of solid work. His selection continues to be unchallenged with Bairstow continuing to make blunders and only 12 dismissals in three tests.
8. Pat Cummins (captain)
116 runs (First test: 38, 44, Second test: 22*, 11 Third test: 0, 1)
8 wickets (First test: 0/59, 4/63 Second test: 1/46, 3/69)
Bowled beautifully in the first innings, taking six wickets for the fourth time in his career, and more of the same in the second, albeit with less reward.
The Australian captain stepped up in the first innings, dismantling England's top order and finishing with his best bowling performance in Tests in the United Kingdom. He Bowled beautifully in the first innings, taking six wickets for the fourth time in his career, and more of the same in the second, with less reward. Cummins has had the better of Joe Root, dismissing the former England captain twice during the third Ashes Test, bringing his overall tally to 11.
10. Mitchell Starc (replaces Nathan Lyon)
39 Runs (Second test: 6, 15*, Third test: 2, 16)
13 wickets (Second test: 3/88, 3/79, Third test: 2/59, 5/78)
Mitchell Starc becomes the first player to find himself in the rolling best XI despite only playing in two matches. Starc has been enormous since joining the side with a wicket tally that has now reached 13. Although England were able to complete the run chase, Starc's effort was notable after dismissing four of England's top six batsmen.
10. Stuart Broad
56 runs (First test: 16,10, Second test: 12, 11, Third test: 7)
16 wickets (First test: 3/68, 3/64 Second test: 1/99, 4/65, Third test: 2/58, 3/45)
Stuart Broad has continued to be world-class for England. He collected another five wickets while leading with his economy rate. Broad dismissed Warner for the 16th and 17th times in his career and the quality of his bowling across the match deserved more than his five wickets.
11. Ollie Robinson
59 runs (First test: 17,27, Second test: 9, 1 Third test: 5*)
10 wickets (First test: 3/55, 2/43 Second test: 3/100, 2/48, Third test: 0/38)
Ollie Robinson was absent on and off the field during the third Test. He was unable to strike in his only two spells of the match with an apparent back spasm believed to be the reason. His efforts in the previous two tests were enough to help him cling onto a spot with neither team's spinners eligible for selection. With Robinson set for a rest, this is likely his last appearance in our rolling XI
